We’re looking forward to introducing you to Charlie Kerbel. Check out our conversation below.
Charlie, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
I would say integrity comes first. It is the foundation of everything I believe in, being honest, kind, and true to your word even when no one is watching. Integrity builds friendships and close relationships, and along the way you naturally find out who does and does not have it. You start aligning yourself with people who also stand by their word and live with integrity behind them. It creates trust, respect, and a sense of safety that allows real connection to grow. After integrity, I would say energy comes next. Passion, motivation, and drive are what push you forward and help you create momentum in life. Finally, intelligence comes after that. You can always learn what you do not know, but without integrity and energy, intelligence alone does not lead to real success or fulfillment.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, I’m Charlie Kerbel, founder of Penny Blue Gift Co. At Penny Blue, we bring creativity and care to the world of corporate and client gifting. Our focus is on thoughtful design, premium production, and seamless fulfillment, helping businesses of all sizes create meaningful moments through beautifully branded gifts, apparel, and custom packaging.
www.pennybluegiftco.com
What makes Penny Blue special is our design-led approach. With a background in creative design, I see every detail as part of a story from the colors and textures of a gift box to the artwork on a piece of branded apparel. It’s about creating something that feels personal and memorable, not just another gift. I believe that how something is given is just as important as what’s inside.
At the heart of Penny Blue is a love for connection. We want every recipient to feel appreciated, every brand to shine, and every experience to feel effortless. Whether it’s a large-scale corporate campaign or a small curated collection, we put the same level of heart, creativity, and precision into each project.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I think what breaks the bonds between people is usually a loss of honesty, communication, or trust. When people stop showing up with integrity or start saying one thing and doing another, that connection slowly fades. Relationships of any kind whether personal or professional need truth, care, and respect to stay strong.
What restores them, though, is humility and openness. It takes acknowledging where things went wrong, listening, and being willing to rebuild without ego. When both sides lead with kindness, honesty, and effort, trust can grow again, sometimes even stronger than before. For me, integrity is always at the center of that because when your intentions are genuine, people can feel it, and that’s what brings connection back.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
What suffering taught me that success never could is strength, empathy, and perspective. Losing my dad in the way that I did changed me forever. It showed me how fragile life can be and that the world isn’t always an easy or safe place. Bad things happen, even when you try your best to be a good person. You can do everything right, and life can still shake you to your core.
But it also taught me that you have to get up, keep going, and stay motivated no matter what. You focus on creating a life that you’re proud of, one that carries meaning and integrity. Because at the end of the day, you live with your name, that’s what represents who you are, what you stand for, and how you move through the world. Losing my dad in that way reminded me that even through pain, there’s strength, and that the only thing we truly control is how we choose to live and who we choose to be
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say what matters most to me is showing up being there for the people I love and being a good friend. My family means everything to me, and they’re at the center of all I do. They’d also say I care about doing things with heart, leading with kindness, and creating genuine connections.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What will you regret not doing?
What I will regret not doing is traveling, seeing the world, learning from different cultures, and gaining new perspectives. Travel inspires me in so many ways through colors, textures, design, and the creativity that comes from seeing how people live and express themselves in different places. My favorite destinations always spark new ideas for my business and influence the way I think about style, branding, and presentation. Experiencing the world fuels everything I do, so I know I would regret not giving myself more of that, more inspiration, more learning, and more connection with people and places beyond my everyday world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pennybluegiftco.com
- Instagram: pennybluegiftco
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=penny%20blue%20gift%20co&origin=SPELL_CHECK_DID_YOU_MEAN&sid=G7G&spellCorrectionEnabled=false
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